Court Rejects Sex-Change Surgery for Inmate

by Rayne Millaray

California judges say she's “reasonably safe.” Think so?

Remember back in April we told you about a transgender inmate in a California prison who was suing to make the state provide her with gender reassignment surgery? Her name's Lyralisa Stevens and she was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years to life. And though she had begun body modification (silicone injections in her breasts and hips) before she went to prison, the state placed her in a men's prison because she still has a penis.

The prison is providing Lyralisa with hormones, but surgery?

Alison Hardy, Lyralisa's attorney, argued that Lyralisa is not safe in the men's prison. She's in constant jeopardy of sexual assault. Because of this, she spends most of her time alone in her cell.

“She has not been outside in over a year because she is not safe out on the yard ... and she has to be very careful about when she showers.” said Hardy.